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Poetry books by Michael Rosen, Jane Newberry and Manjeet Mann are among the shortlist for this year's Centre for Literacy in Primary Education Children's Poetry Award (CLiPPA).
The five books on the shortlist are: Slam! You’re Gonna Wanna Hear This (Macmillan) chosen by Nikita Gill, Bright Bursts of Colour (Bloomsbury Education) written by Matt Goodfellow and illustrated by Aleksei Bitskoff, Run, Rebel (Penguin) by Manjeet Mann, Big Green Crocodile Rhymes to Say and Play (OtterBarry Books) written by Jane Newberry and illustrated by Carolina Rabei, and On the Move (Walker Books) written by Michael Rosen and illustrated by Quentin Blake.
The shortlist was announced today as part of Poetry By Heart’s award ceremony at The Globe Theatre, and featured live poetry readings from leading children’s poets alongside performances by children from primary schools that took part in the CLiPPA Shadowing campaign.
CLiPPA said this year’s shortlist, chosen from books published in 2020 "demonstrates the vital resilience of poets and publishers" and "celebrates exceptional poetry for children by brand new voices and the UK’s best-known and best-loved children’s poet".
Allie Esiri, chair of the judges, said: "If you think your child doesn’t like poetry, please share the books on this year’s CLiPPA shortlist. They are varied - a picture book, an anthology, outstanding single collections and a verse novel - but each one reminds us what the best poetry for children can do. The poets capture real life experiences that will excite their audience and speak directly to them; they plant images and ideas and allow them space to grow. Poetry demands more than other kinds of literature but gives back more too and there are poems in these books that will remain in the minds of their readers forever. I’m particularly pleased that there is a book for the very young on the shortlist, but all these collections could start a lifetime of poetry pleasure.’
Louise Johns-Shepherd, chief executive at CLPE, added: "After the challenges of the past 18 months, we are delighted to be announcing the shortlist for the CLiPPA and thrilled to be doing it as part of the Poetry By Heart celebrations at The Globe amongst so many young poetry-lovers. Congratulations to the poets on the list, to the poets here today and all the young poetry performers, particularly CLiPPA shadowers Freddie Bland and Zane Siddiqui from Swaffield Primary School, who performed 'Brother and Sister', from A F Harold’s anthology Midnight Feasts (Bloomsbury Education) and Benji Morris from Norwich Road Academy, Norwich, who performed "Fireworks", from The Proper Way to Meet a Hedgehog (Walker Books) by Paul B Janeczko."
This year the judges are poets Zaro Weil, who won the 2020 CLiPPA with her collection "Cherry Moon and Amina Jama"; Julie Blake, co-founder and director of Poetry By Heart; and Charlotte Hacking, learning programmes leader at CLPE. Allie Esiri is chair.
The winner of the 2021 CLiPPA will be revealed at the Times and the Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival, on Monday 11th October, in a Poetry Show introduced by CLiPPA judges Zaro Weil and Allie Esiri, and featuring performances by the shortlisted poets. Schools across the UK and beyond will be able to watch the show online and access poetry sessions created by CLPE.